Pelosi: ‘Seismic’ Boehner Resignation ‘Indication of Disarray in GOP’

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is using House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-OH) resignation to slam House Republicans and their efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.

Speaking to reporters Friday, Pelosi called Boehner’s resignation “a stark indication of the disarray of the House Republicans.”

She continued, adding that it is “a demonstration of [House Republicans’] obsession with shutting down government at the expense of women’s health and a sign of the failure of the House Republicans to be willing to engage in dialogue for the good of the American people and for us to move forward.”

In a closed-door meeting with the House GOP Members Friday morning, Boehner announced he would be stepping down as Speaker. Boehner will be leaving the speakership and his House seat at the end of October.

The announcement was a surprise, which Pelosi acknowledged Friday, saying it was “not the morning we thought it would be.”

“This resignation as significant as it is, and it is seismic for the House, does not undermine or diminish the afterglow of his Holiness Pope Francis’ visit to the Congress yesterday,” she added.

The Democratic leader reiterated her desire to move forward with a clean continuing resolution to keep the government open without alterations to Planned Parenthood funding.

“But, again, the disarray of the House Republicans, their obsession with shutting down government at the expense of women’s health, needs to be reckoned with and recognized,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi said she learned of Boehner’s announcement Friday morning as the news leaked out.

“The American people are even now closely watching what happens here because they’ve seen a speaker step down because those in his caucus are demanding a shutdown of government unless there is a defunding of Planned Parenthood,” she said.

“Public awareness is the strongest, strongest opportunity we have for keeping government open. Even some of their — Karl Roves — and the rest of that line, my understanding is, have spoken against shutting down government,” Pelosi added.